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Dear Reader,
Every year Flat Stanley comes for a visit. He arrived yesterday and exhausted from his trip, he's napping in my guest room at this very moment. Matthew, a student in Ms. Anderson's second grade class at North Liberty Elementary School, sent Flat Stanley to live with my husband and me for two weeks. Our assignment is to take Matthew's Flat Stanley paper doll with us wherever we go. Lucky for Flat Stanley, my husband and I are leaving for a vacation in the Smokey Mountains in a few days, and there are two bedrooms in the "cabin" we rented. I say "cabin" because really it's a huge home, high up on the side of the mountain, completely secluded, full kitchen, living room, fireplace, wireless Internet, a pool table in the loft, a hot tub on the deck off of the main bedroom, two bathrooms, and a view high up above the trees. North Carolina, here we come! Can't wait! And Flat Stanley will be able to fly with us for free, such a deal.
If you've never been introduced to Flat Stanley, he's the main character in Jeff Brown's book Flat Stanley. Stanley Lambchop becomes as flat as a piece of paper when the bulletin board in his room, falls on him in the middle of the night. But just as in every day life, if you look real hard--even in the midst of something bad, like being smished by a bulletin board--something good is tucked away inside. When you're a flat guy, flat as a piece of paper, the good news is you can easily slide into an envelope and travel First Class to anywhere in the country, for only 44 cents!
Flat Stanley is an annual project for Ms. Anderson's second grade class, and this is the fourth year my husband and I have invited Flat Stanley to stay with us. We take him everywhere we go: to the market (he rides in the child seat in the cart, safely secured by the seat belt), the library, Farmer's Market, and he's a hard working gardener--even willing to pull weeds. Flat Stanley's excited about visiting the Smokey Mountains. He told us this will be the first time. (I hope it's not a problem getting him through airport security, Flat Stanley forgot his identification. But since he's famous and a book's been written about him, I bet they'll usher him right through.)
Flat Stanley, of course he's child's play and make believe, but I must admit I get emotionally attached to the little fellow when he visits. Matthew, our new second grade pal sent along a letter, too. "Hello! My name is Matthew. I am in Ms. Anderson's class, and I am your new Flat Stanley Buddy!!! We are going to have fun together!!!"
Yes we are Matthew, and not to worry, my husband I will take good care of your Flat Stanley. A paper doll, colored with crayons by a second grader, yet Flat Stanley makes me smile. Ah, the wonder of make-believe!
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]der.com
www.muffinsandmayhem.com
AUTHORBUZZ: Email an author, say hello, or ask a question about writing. Meet this week's authors at AuthorBuzz. Just click on the link below.
THE FUNNY MAN by John Warner
THE BLACK STILETTO by Raymond Benson
LOVE ADDICT by Ethlie Ann Vare
DEEPLY DEVOTED by Maggie Brendan
ECHOES OF DISTANT THUNDER by Frank P. Slaughter
Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader
AUTHORBUZZ: DEEPLY DEVOTED, by Maggie Brendan
When Catharine Olsen steps off the train in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Peter Andersen is thrilled to see that she is delicately beautiful and everything her letters made her out to be. But he is a bit perturbed by what she failed to mention in those cherished letters--that she would be bringing her two sisters with her from Holland when she came to be his bride.
Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader Click on DEEPLY DEVOTED to read more. Author Maggie Brendan would love to hear from you.
I just recently read a post about weevils, i have some and didnt realize that the moth i found under a canister was a weevil in the next stage!!?? I am throwing away rice and flour from the cabinet, and i am moving the items that were in the cabinet to a pantry much farther away from the stove. The posting was most helpful, i am also dealing with a serious ant problem that has me insane and not cooking like my usual self. The post and its following comments were very helpful. thanks..............Leah.
Posted by: Leah Freer | September 08, 2011 at 10:55 AM